Premier League: Southampton v West Brom match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at St Mary’s Stadium

West Brom's new manager Pepe Mel will watch from the stands during Saturday's Premier League encounter with Southampton (GETTY IMAGES)

Mauricio Pochettino will be eager to bury all of the recent Adam Lallana talk and focus on getting his team back to winning ways in the league against a West Brom now guided by Pepe Mel, although he will be in the stands for Saturday's match.

Despite a fantastic first-half to Southampton’s season, they have drastically struggled against top-half teams and will be thankful for this tie against the Baggies. They have only won one of their last nine league games, seven of which have been against top-half teams.

The Saints have scheduled fitness tests for Gaston Ramirez and Artur Boruc, ahead of this Saturday’s game. Ramirez has been out with a recurring hamstring injury and Boruc fractured his hand after a collision with a goal-post in Southampton’s New Year’s Day defeat to Chelsea.

West Brom were on a promising run under caretaker manager Keith Downing, who returns to his role of assistant manager having been unbeaten in four. Last time out they won their first league game since early November, defeating Newcastle 1-0.

Key to their success this Saturday will be young forward Saido Berahino, who is hoping that his continued form will force his way into the thoughts of England manager Roy Hodgson and hopefully onto the plane to Brazil. He has scored two in his last two league games.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

West Brom 0 Southampton 1 (Lambert), Premier League, August 2013

Southampton 0 West Brom 3 (Fortune, Lukaku, Long), Premier League, April 2013

West Brom 2 (Odemwingie 2) Southampton 0, Premier League, November 2012

STATS…

Southampton have the second best possession statistics in the division - 57.3%

The head-to-head league record between the two sides is identical - 21 wins each and 19 draws.

West Brom are one of the most fouled teams in the division - third most fouled, 12 times per-game

ODDS…

Southampton to win: 1.80

West Brom to win: 4.75

Draw: 3.50

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm